June 6: Applesauce Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Applesauce Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
Base:
1 1/4 cups (5.6 oz) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 cup shortening or vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons lightly beaten egg
1/3 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1/3 cup raisins (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting:
3 tablespoons (1.5 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and place a rack in the center. Line a 9-inch square metal pan with nonstick foil, or line it with regular foil and spray the foil with flour-added baking spray.
2. Make the base: Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice together in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the shortening and mash it around so that it coats the flour. Add the water, applesauce, and egg and beat until well mixed. Stir in the walnuts and raisins, if using.
3. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan.
4. Make the frosting: Beat the butter and cream cheese together in a medium bowl until creamy. Beat in the vanilla and confectioners' sugar until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Spread over the cooled bars. When ready to serve, lift from the pan, set on a cutting board, and cut into 16 bars.

Base ingredients

Addition of the vegetable oil

Addition of the egg, water, and applesauce

Addition of the walnuts

Before the oven

After the oven

Frosting ingredients

Addition of the vanilla and confectioners' sugar

Look how nice that covered the cake!

Thoughts: I decided not to use raisins just because I didn't have any and was too lazy to go to the store. To avoid some of the issues that I have been having in past weeks, I decided to double the frosting part. This worked out wonderfully because I had enough to cover the cake adequately and there weren't that much leftover. The cake turned out very moist and the frosting was a success! It had a taste most similar to a spice cake or carrot cake.

December 16: Chai-Chocolate Banana Tea Bars

Chai-Chocolate Banana Tea Bars

Ingredients:
1 cup (4.5 oz) white whole wheat or all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
4 tablespoons (2 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup minus 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1 large egg
3/4 cup mashed bananas
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup toasted and chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and place a rack in the center. Spray a 9-inch square metal pan with flour-added baking spray or line the inside with nonstick foil.
2. Mix the flour, salt, baking powder, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg together in a small bowl; set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy. Beat in the vanilla and sour cream. Reduce the mixer speed and beat in the egg and banana until creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl. With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour mixture. When the flour is absorbed, mix in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
4. Spread in the prepared pan and bake for 28-30 minutes, or until the bars are browned around the edges and appear set. Let cool completely in the pan. Cut into 16 squares.

Dry Ingredients

Addition of vanilla and sour cream

Addition of egg and mashed bananas

Addition of dry ingredients

Addition of chocolate chips

Thoughts: This was a very easy recipe. My one co-worker who tried it said it was a great breakfast bar. I didn't use the optional walnuts. The flavor was like banana bread.